kilometerman
Banned deucer.
[OVERVIEW]
* Excadrill is a dedicated suicide lead that combines the roles of hazard setter and hazard remover
* Viability has decreased since SM as mid and late-game hazard removers are more common, meaning there are less suicide leads for Excadrill to counter
* A combination of Stealth Rock and Mold Breaker allow it to set up hazards even against Magic Bounce users
* STAB Earthquake and the move Rapid Spin allow Excadrill to counterlead Stealth Rock Primal Groudon
* Offers little to no use outside of as a rocks suicide lead, which is not as viable a role anymore
* Poor bulk forces Excadrill to use a focus sash, leaving it weak to Taunt users that prevent it from setting up Stealth Rocks or using Toxic
* An immunity to Toxic allows Excadrill to switch in on certain Toxic users such as Lugia or Stealth Rocks Arceus-Fairy if not used early-game, as well as being able to prevent slower defoggers from using Toxic and Defog to faint it
* Average speed tier allows it to outspeed bulky Pokemon such as defensive Primal Groudon
* Rock Tomb prevents setup sweepers and counterleads from being a threat to the rest of your team
[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Rock Tomb / Earthquake
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Focus Sash
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpDef / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Stealth Rock is mandatory on most teams due to its ability to consistently deal chip damage and cripple Pokemon weak to it such as Ho-Oh and Mega Salamence.
* Excadrill can use Mold Breaker to reliably set up Stealth Rock and Toxic on Magic Bounce users such as Mega Diancie and Mega Sableye, as well as hit Giratina-O with Earthquake
* Earthquake is Excadrill's primary offensive move as it's STAB-boosted and also hits Primal Groudon, another common lead, for super effective damage. It also hits common spinblockers such as Marshadow and Mega Gengar.
* Rock Tomb hits Flying-types, restricts Pokemon such as Mega Salamence, Rayquaza, and Xerneas from setting up with speed boosts, and is a guaranteed 2HKO on Ho-oh. It also slows down counterleads such as Arceus-Ground so that a Taunt user or hard-hitting Pokemon such as Eruption Primal Groudon can outspeed them.
* Toxic cripples Pokemon that threaten to Defog its Stealth Rocks such as support Arceus forms and Giratina-Origin. It also cripples bulkier Pokemon that would otherwise take little damage from Earthquake and Rock Tomb
* Rapid Spin clears opposing hazards.
Set Details
========
* Focus Sash is used so that Excadrill can survive at least one turn and set up Stealth Rock
* 252 attack EVs are used as Excadrill is used as a suicide lead, and therefore does not need any extra bulk. It also increases Rock Tomb and Earthquake damage and puts Primal Groudon in the 2HKO range.
* Max speed allows Excadrill to outspeed base 90 through base 101 speed Pokemon with 252 speed EVs, as well as uninvested Arceus forms
Usage Tips
========
* Excadrill is best used as a suicide lead
* Earthquake and Rapin Spin allow it to force Stealth Rocks Primal Groudon and Dusk Mane Necrozma, both common leads in the Ubers meta
* If facing Deoxys-Speed, it's important to always use Rapid Spin turn 1 if your opponent has a spinblocker. If not, Excadrill can use Rock Tomb until it outspeeds and Taunt wears off, and then set up its own rocks. Also play carefully around Rocky Helmet Deo-S.
* Excadrill should not be used as a lead if your opponent has Cloyster, Pheromosa, or Greninja, as these Pokemon are dedicated leads that beat it.
* Be wary of Mega Salamence carrying Substitute and Dragon Dance, as Rock Tomb cannot break a substitute after Intimidate.
* Spinblockers can prevent Rapid Spin from clearing opposing hazards.
* Excadrill can easily get up rocks versus Giratina-Origin as long as it is not carrying Shadow Sneak.
* Be wary of fast Taunt users such as Deoxys-Speed, Yveltal, Mega Mewtwo Y, and Mega Gengar.
* Excadrill outspeeds the two Choice Scarf Users in the tier, Yveltal and Xerneas, after a Rock Tomb if they're carrying a Modest nature.
* Avoid Rocky Helmet and Iron Barbs users such as Ferrothorn and Deoxys-Speed, who make Rapid Spin useless.
* Avoid leading against Shuckle and instead wait for an opportunity to switch in later in the game to clear away Sticky Webs.
Team Options
========
* Without needing to be the team's rocker, Primal Groudon can instead run an offensive set. Rocks also deal chip to Waterceus and Groundceus, preventing them from switching in as much on it. Eruption Primal Groudon specifically benefits from Excadrill, as it can switch in on a Pokemon slowed down by Rock Tomb and outspeed it.
* Pokemon with a strong offensive presence pair the best with Excadrill. By only using hard-hitting Pokemon that can either kill or set up on your opponent's defogger, you force your opponent to make a risky gamble on how important it is to remove rocks.
* Pokemon such as Solganium Z Dusk-Mane Necrozma, Focus Sash Dragon Dance Rayquaza, and Mixed Primal Groudon can be used to cover Excadrill's weakness to Mega Salamence carrying Substitute and Dragon Dance.
* Rocks cripple Ho-oh, making sure Xerneas can sweep with Geomancy more safely
* Yveltal benefits from rocks as they cripple Ho-oh and prevent Darkceus and Fairyceus from being able to switch as much
* Ultra Necrozma appreciates rocks as they punish Yveltal and put it in OHKO range of unboosted Stone Edge
* Wallbreakers and setup sweepers including but not limited to Mega Salamence, Rayquaza, and Palkia benefit from rocks breaking Focus Sashes and putting certain Pokemon in OHKO or 2HKO range
* Focus Sash users like Rayquaza and Flying types such as Mega Salamence appreciate Rapid Spin limiting your opponent's ability to keep up rocks
* Taunt users such as Yveltal and Mega Gyarados can use Taunt to prevent defoggers from removing Excadrill's rocks after it dies. Mewtwo and Mega Gengar also don't need the speed drop from Rock Tomb to effectively use Taunt.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Excadrill can be used as a sand sweeper when paired with Tyranitar. With a Jolly nature, it can outspeed the entire unboosted metagame under sand, and deal serious damage with STAB Iron Head and Earthquake. It can run a Life Orb for extra power or an Air Balloon to better handle Primal Groudon and Arceus-Ground.
* Excadrill can run a Groundium Z wallbreaker set that is a guaranteed OHKO on all common Primal Groudon sets as well as Dusk Mane Necrozma.
* Bulldoze combines the speed drop from Rock Tomb and the STAB damage from Earthquake, however it gives flying-type Pokemon including Mega Salamence and Rayquaza the ability to set up.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Cloyster**: Cloyster is able to use set up on Excadrill with Shell Smash and OHKO it with Icicle Spear.
**Dedicated Anti-Leads**: Pheromosa, Mega Kangaskhan, Deoxys-Speed, and Darkrai all pose a significant threat as they can kill, put to sleep, and Taunt Excadrill before it can get its rocks up. Deoxys-Speed with Rocky Helmet also prevents Rapid Spin.
**Giratina-Origin**: Giratina-Origin carrying Shadow Sneak can 3HKO Excadrill and Defog away its hazards.
**Lead Dragon Dance Sweepers**: Mega Salamence carrying Substitute and Dragon Dance is able to set up against all Excadrill sets, and Dragon Dance Substitute Zygarde can set up if Excadrill is not carrying Toxic.
**Taunt Users**: Taunt users such as Mega Gengar and Yveltal can use Taunt to prevent Stealth Rocks from being set up.
**Support Arceus forms**: Support Arceus forms, mainly Groundceus, outspeed Excadrill and Defog its hazards away. However they can be crippled with Toxic or slowed down with Rock Tomb, and they generally wouldn't be used to counterlead unless the opposing team doesn't heavily rely on them for any purpose other than using Defog.
**Shuckle**: Shuckle can set up Sticky Webs on Excadrill and lock it into a damaging move with Encore, or lock it into Rapid Spin so that a spinblocker such as Ghostceus can switch in and prevent the removal of Sticky Web.
**Ferrothorn**: Ferrothorn takes negligible damage from Earthquake and can Leech Seed Excadrill while setting up its own Spikes. Its ability Iron Barbs also prevents Rapid Spin.
**Skarmory**: Skarmory is immune to Toxic, immune to Earthquake, can set up Spikes and prevent Rapid Spin with a Rocky Helmet, and Defog away Stealth Rocks.
* Excadrill is a dedicated suicide lead that combines the roles of hazard setter and hazard remover
* Viability has decreased since SM as mid and late-game hazard removers are more common, meaning there are less suicide leads for Excadrill to counter
* A combination of Stealth Rock and Mold Breaker allow it to set up hazards even against Magic Bounce users
* STAB Earthquake and the move Rapid Spin allow Excadrill to counterlead Stealth Rock Primal Groudon
* Offers little to no use outside of as a rocks suicide lead, which is not as viable a role anymore
* Poor bulk forces Excadrill to use a focus sash, leaving it weak to Taunt users that prevent it from setting up Stealth Rocks or using Toxic
* An immunity to Toxic allows Excadrill to switch in on certain Toxic users such as Lugia or Stealth Rocks Arceus-Fairy if not used early-game, as well as being able to prevent slower defoggers from using Toxic and Defog to faint it
* Average speed tier allows it to outspeed bulky Pokemon such as defensive Primal Groudon
* Rock Tomb prevents setup sweepers and counterleads from being a threat to the rest of your team
[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Rock Tomb / Earthquake
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Focus Sash
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpDef / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Stealth Rock is mandatory on most teams due to its ability to consistently deal chip damage and cripple Pokemon weak to it such as Ho-Oh and Mega Salamence.
* Excadrill can use Mold Breaker to reliably set up Stealth Rock and Toxic on Magic Bounce users such as Mega Diancie and Mega Sableye, as well as hit Giratina-O with Earthquake
* Earthquake is Excadrill's primary offensive move as it's STAB-boosted and also hits Primal Groudon, another common lead, for super effective damage. It also hits common spinblockers such as Marshadow and Mega Gengar.
* Rock Tomb hits Flying-types, restricts Pokemon such as Mega Salamence, Rayquaza, and Xerneas from setting up with speed boosts, and is a guaranteed 2HKO on Ho-oh. It also slows down counterleads such as Arceus-Ground so that a Taunt user or hard-hitting Pokemon such as Eruption Primal Groudon can outspeed them.
* Toxic cripples Pokemon that threaten to Defog its Stealth Rocks such as support Arceus forms and Giratina-Origin. It also cripples bulkier Pokemon that would otherwise take little damage from Earthquake and Rock Tomb
* Rapid Spin clears opposing hazards.
Set Details
========
* Focus Sash is used so that Excadrill can survive at least one turn and set up Stealth Rock
* 252 attack EVs are used as Excadrill is used as a suicide lead, and therefore does not need any extra bulk. It also increases Rock Tomb and Earthquake damage and puts Primal Groudon in the 2HKO range.
* Max speed allows Excadrill to outspeed base 90 through base 101 speed Pokemon with 252 speed EVs, as well as uninvested Arceus forms
Usage Tips
========
* Excadrill is best used as a suicide lead
* Earthquake and Rapin Spin allow it to force Stealth Rocks Primal Groudon and Dusk Mane Necrozma, both common leads in the Ubers meta
* If facing Deoxys-Speed, it's important to always use Rapid Spin turn 1 if your opponent has a spinblocker. If not, Excadrill can use Rock Tomb until it outspeeds and Taunt wears off, and then set up its own rocks. Also play carefully around Rocky Helmet Deo-S.
* Excadrill should not be used as a lead if your opponent has Cloyster, Pheromosa, or Greninja, as these Pokemon are dedicated leads that beat it.
* Be wary of Mega Salamence carrying Substitute and Dragon Dance, as Rock Tomb cannot break a substitute after Intimidate.
* Spinblockers can prevent Rapid Spin from clearing opposing hazards.
* Excadrill can easily get up rocks versus Giratina-Origin as long as it is not carrying Shadow Sneak.
* Be wary of fast Taunt users such as Deoxys-Speed, Yveltal, Mega Mewtwo Y, and Mega Gengar.
* Excadrill outspeeds the two Choice Scarf Users in the tier, Yveltal and Xerneas, after a Rock Tomb if they're carrying a Modest nature.
* Avoid Rocky Helmet and Iron Barbs users such as Ferrothorn and Deoxys-Speed, who make Rapid Spin useless.
* Avoid leading against Shuckle and instead wait for an opportunity to switch in later in the game to clear away Sticky Webs.
Team Options
========
* Without needing to be the team's rocker, Primal Groudon can instead run an offensive set. Rocks also deal chip to Waterceus and Groundceus, preventing them from switching in as much on it. Eruption Primal Groudon specifically benefits from Excadrill, as it can switch in on a Pokemon slowed down by Rock Tomb and outspeed it.
* Pokemon with a strong offensive presence pair the best with Excadrill. By only using hard-hitting Pokemon that can either kill or set up on your opponent's defogger, you force your opponent to make a risky gamble on how important it is to remove rocks.
* Pokemon such as Solganium Z Dusk-Mane Necrozma, Focus Sash Dragon Dance Rayquaza, and Mixed Primal Groudon can be used to cover Excadrill's weakness to Mega Salamence carrying Substitute and Dragon Dance.
* Rocks cripple Ho-oh, making sure Xerneas can sweep with Geomancy more safely
* Yveltal benefits from rocks as they cripple Ho-oh and prevent Darkceus and Fairyceus from being able to switch as much
* Ultra Necrozma appreciates rocks as they punish Yveltal and put it in OHKO range of unboosted Stone Edge
* Wallbreakers and setup sweepers including but not limited to Mega Salamence, Rayquaza, and Palkia benefit from rocks breaking Focus Sashes and putting certain Pokemon in OHKO or 2HKO range
* Focus Sash users like Rayquaza and Flying types such as Mega Salamence appreciate Rapid Spin limiting your opponent's ability to keep up rocks
* Taunt users such as Yveltal and Mega Gyarados can use Taunt to prevent defoggers from removing Excadrill's rocks after it dies. Mewtwo and Mega Gengar also don't need the speed drop from Rock Tomb to effectively use Taunt.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Excadrill can be used as a sand sweeper when paired with Tyranitar. With a Jolly nature, it can outspeed the entire unboosted metagame under sand, and deal serious damage with STAB Iron Head and Earthquake. It can run a Life Orb for extra power or an Air Balloon to better handle Primal Groudon and Arceus-Ground.
* Excadrill can run a Groundium Z wallbreaker set that is a guaranteed OHKO on all common Primal Groudon sets as well as Dusk Mane Necrozma.
* Bulldoze combines the speed drop from Rock Tomb and the STAB damage from Earthquake, however it gives flying-type Pokemon including Mega Salamence and Rayquaza the ability to set up.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Cloyster**: Cloyster is able to use set up on Excadrill with Shell Smash and OHKO it with Icicle Spear.
**Dedicated Anti-Leads**: Pheromosa, Mega Kangaskhan, Deoxys-Speed, and Darkrai all pose a significant threat as they can kill, put to sleep, and Taunt Excadrill before it can get its rocks up. Deoxys-Speed with Rocky Helmet also prevents Rapid Spin.
**Giratina-Origin**: Giratina-Origin carrying Shadow Sneak can 3HKO Excadrill and Defog away its hazards.
**Lead Dragon Dance Sweepers**: Mega Salamence carrying Substitute and Dragon Dance is able to set up against all Excadrill sets, and Dragon Dance Substitute Zygarde can set up if Excadrill is not carrying Toxic.
**Taunt Users**: Taunt users such as Mega Gengar and Yveltal can use Taunt to prevent Stealth Rocks from being set up.
**Support Arceus forms**: Support Arceus forms, mainly Groundceus, outspeed Excadrill and Defog its hazards away. However they can be crippled with Toxic or slowed down with Rock Tomb, and they generally wouldn't be used to counterlead unless the opposing team doesn't heavily rely on them for any purpose other than using Defog.
**Shuckle**: Shuckle can set up Sticky Webs on Excadrill and lock it into a damaging move with Encore, or lock it into Rapid Spin so that a spinblocker such as Ghostceus can switch in and prevent the removal of Sticky Web.
**Ferrothorn**: Ferrothorn takes negligible damage from Earthquake and can Leech Seed Excadrill while setting up its own Spikes. Its ability Iron Barbs also prevents Rapid Spin.
**Skarmory**: Skarmory is immune to Toxic, immune to Earthquake, can set up Spikes and prevent Rapid Spin with a Rocky Helmet, and Defog away Stealth Rocks.
Last edited: